KUWAIT CITY, May 19: The Philippine Embassy line with its continued effort for to better serve all Filipino nationals has announced on weekend the arrival of two new officials to augment the embassy personnel. Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Lamberto V Monsanto introduced First Secretary and Consul Jabbar Adiong and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Shiena Tesorero to the leaders of various Filipino organizations in Kuwait who were welcomed by the community. “I’m very glad that our personnel has been augmented with the addition of two new officers Consul Jabbar Adiong and Vice Consul Shiena Tesorero plus two additional consular staff, we will be able to provide better services, consular services and attend to the needs of our distressed nationals,” stated Monsanto. Adiong who finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and went to the San Beda Law School, was previously posted in Qatar before taking up the assignment in Kuwait.

On Labor Day, the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a non-government organization that I head, launched an online petition urging Congress to pass a law against age discrimination in the workplace. As I write this column, more than 200 petitioners have signed up in a span of two and a half days. An uphill battle is expected considering the divided attention of Congress amid corruption cases, a draft Bangsamoro Basic Law as well as the 2015 national budget.

Is the People’s Republic of China still a socialist State? I dare say: NOT ANYMORE! The undeniable fact is this: China is steadily becoming not just only rabidly capitalistic in its approach to its own political economy, but the present Chinese government likewise behaved itself as another rogue imperialist state in its territorial conflicts with Japan, the Philippines and yes, even in its conflict with another socialist state, Vietnam! China is a revisionist State and I hope that we must not drag the name of Marx or of Marxist socialism when we blame this present Chinese imperialistic ambition and aggressive bullying in the South China Sea or in the West Philippine Sea. China committed not just covert but overt aggression against another socialist state, Vietnam: in this case, can you still call China a socialist state when Marx taught that all socialist states must stand in solidarity with other socialist countries to fight capitalism, hegemony, and imperialism? The late Chinese Prime

It is disquieting to note that Mar Roxas gets a slapping from Wack Wack Golf and Country Club for his misbehavior when asked to pay the green fee which is required among all club members.

It is not his suspension that deserves utmost attention, but what matters most is his uncontrolled emotion to be easily irritated when confronted by situation that would put him at par with other members of the club.